An independent impact study by Systra published today to mark The Road Safety Trust’s 10th anniversary will outline how the charity’s funding has helped build the evidence base for safer roads across the UK.
It also demonstrates how over £13m invested across more than 120 projects over the past decade has directly influenced policing standards, vehicle regulation, and emergency response guidance.
The Department for Transport’s newly published Road Safety Strategy directly incorporates a number of Trust-funded research and interventions. It pledges support to roll out Project PRIME’s motorcycle safety markings nationwide and highlights the preventative power of the Data Sustains Life project.
In 2024, 29,467 people were killed or seriously injured on UK roads – underlining the continuing importance of Trust-funded research and innovation to improve road safety.
Over the past 10 years, the Trust has built a large, practical evidence base by funding projects that span many aspects of road safety – from engineering new road layouts and testing safety equipment, to educating young drivers and improving police enforcement.
Crucially, this research and knowledge is designed to be shared with road safety professionals to be used and deployed in practice. The report found that 17 of the Trust-funded projects it evaluated have already produced ready-to-use manuals, systems, and procedures that frontline organisations can implement immediately.
Another central finding of Systra’s evaluation is the role of the Trust as a catalyst in an important area of public health, frequently backing research and interventions that go on to improve road safety and save lives.
Key findings from the report include:
• Driving actionable change: 53 of the 74 completed projects assessed showed clear evidence of current or future positive impacts on road safety.
• Unlocking potential: 98% of surveyed grantees (40 out of 41) stated their work was unlikely to have proceeded without the Trust’s financial support.
• Targeting unexplored areas: The evaluation found the Trust frequently funds projects that focus on critical safety issues that lack clear ownership by other organisations.
Ruth Purdie OBE, Chief Executive of The Road Safety Trust said:
“At the heart of our work is a clear vision: zero deaths and serious injuries on UK roads. Over the past decade, our funding has identified critical evidence gaps, supported groundbreaking research, and equipped those working across the road safety system with the practical tools to prevent harm and save lives.
“We are incredibly grateful to the researchers, practitioners, charities, public bodies and road safety professionals whose expertise has underpinned the projects highlighted in this report. Their commitment has helped build an evidence base that now informs national policy and improves road safety practice across the UK and beyond.
“But our work is far from done. As we look to the next decade, the Trust will continue to work in close partnership with government, emergency services, industry, charities, local authorities and academics to support the research and innovation needed to make our roads safer for everyone.”
Systra’s research highlights the Trust’s impact as being rooted in its ability to fund practical research and interventions that are adopted and rolled out at scale. Examples of Trust-funded projects that have been successfully deployed nationally or internationally include:
The Road Safety Trust’s next Large Grants round will open shortly after Easter. With a dual theme of preventing harm linked to drug driving or motorised riding, and of safer vehicles – and with total funding of £750,000 available – it will continue the Trust’s investment in practical, lifesaving innovation.
The full Impact Study report, independently conducted by Systra, is available HERE.
(Picture: Road Safety Trust)
